Weight affects body shape satisfaction

A study of Canadian schoolchildren has shown a direct association between body mass index (BMI) and satisfaction with their body shape. The research shows that girls were happiest when thinnest and boys were unhappy when they were too skinny or too fat.

Studies in the past have suggested a link between poor body satisfaction and a higher risk of disordered weight control behaviour such as fasting, use of laxatives and/or diet pills among teenagers.To investigate this relationship, as well as the effects of rural/urban residence, parental education and income, researchers measured the height and weight of 4254 children aged 10-11 years old and asked them how much they agreed with the statement, "I like the way I look".

Overall, 7.3% of girls and 7.8% of boys reported poor body satisfaction. For normal weight, overweight and obese girls the prevalence of poor body satisfaction was 5.7%, 10.4% and 13.1%, respectively. For boys this was 7.6%, 8.4%, and 8.1%, respectively. Girls whose parents had low educational attainment and were residing in rural areas were more likely to report poor body satisfaction.

The researchers noted that poor body satisfaction among males with a low BMI may reflect the cultural ideal for males to attain both muscularity and leanness; whereas, among females, thinness remains the culturally defined ideal body shape.

The finding about girls from rural areas being more likely to report poor body satisfaction suggests that appearance-related pressures may be higher in rural areas, or perhaps that girls in urban areas benefit from existing programmes that may protect against this.